Battery pack flow control system with fan assembly

Abstract

An exemplary fan assembly of a flow control system includes a first fan that communicates flow through a first section of a battery pack enclosure under a first system operating condition, and communicates flow through a second section of the battery pack enclosure under a second system operating condition. A second fan communicates flow through the second section under the first system operating condition.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A fan assembly of a flow control system, comprising:
 a first fan that communicates flow through a first section of a battery pack enclosure under a first system operating condition, and communicates flow through a second section of the battery pack enclosure under a second system operating condition; 
 a second fan that communicates flow through the second section under the first system operating condition; and 
 a third fan that communicates flow through a third section of a battery pack enclosure under the first system operating condition and communicates flow through the second section of the battery pack enclosure under the second operating condition, the first section and third section disposed on opposing sides of the second section. 
 
     
     
       2. The fan assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first fan communicates flow through the first section and the second section under the second system operating condition. 
     
     
       3. The fan assembly of  claim 1 , wherein an axis of rotation of the first fan is aligned with a direction that flow communicates though the first section, and an axis of rotation of the second fan is aligned with a direction that flow communicates through the second section. 
     
     
       4. The fan assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first section is separated from the second section by a divider that includes at least one aperture to permit flow between the first section and the second section. 
     
     
       5. The fan assembly of  claim 4 , wherein a size of the at least one aperture is adjustable to selectively increase or decrease flow permitted through the at least one aperture. 
     
     
       6. The fan assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the fans are configured to be secured adjacent to an open area of the battery pack enclosure, the open area permitting flow from the first section to the second section, and further permitting flow from the second section to the first section. 
     
     
       7. The fan assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a backflow blocker configured to block backflow through the second fan when the first fan communicates flow through the second section. 
     
     
       8. A battery pack flow control system, comprising:
 an enclosure including a first section and a second section; 
 a first group of battery cells in the first section and a second group of battery cells in the second section; and 
 a fan array including a first fan and a second fan,
 the first fan configured to communicate flow through the first section when operating according to a first operating condition and to communicate flow through the second section when operating according to a second operating condition, 
 the second fan configured to communicate flow through the second section when operating according to the first operating condition. 
 
 
     
     
       9. The battery pack flow control system of  claim 8 , wherein the first fan is configured to communicate flow through the first section and the second section when operating according to the second operating condition. 
     
     
       10. The battery pack flow control system of  claim 8 , wherein an axis of rotation of the first fan is aligned with a direction that flow communicates though the first section, and an axis of rotation of the second fan is aligned with a direction that flow communicates through the second section. 
     
     
       11. The battery pack flow control system of  claim 8 , wherein the first section is separated from the second section by a divider that includes at least one aperture to permit flow between the first second and the second section. 
     
     
       12. The battery pack flow control system of  claim 8 , further comprising a backflow blocker configured to block flow through the second fan when the first fan communicates flow through the second section. 
     
     
       13. The battery pack flow control system of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second groups of battery cells are configured to selectively power a drivetrain of an electrified vehicle. 
     
     
       14. The battery pack flow control system of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second groups of battery cells are spaced from the fan array to provide an open area within the enclosure. 
     
     
       15. The battery pack flow control system of  claim 14 , wherein flow can move from the first section to the second section, and from the second section to the first section, within the open area. 
     
     
       16. The battery pack flow control system of  claim 8 , further comprising a louver assembly configured to control a direction of flow communication between the second section and the fan array. 
     
     
       17. The battery pack flow control system of  claim 16 , wherein the louver assembly is configured to move between a first position that permits a first amount of flow between the second section and the second fan, and a second position that permits a second amount of flow between the second section and the second fan, the first amount of flow is greater than the second amount of flow. 
     
     
       18. The battery pack flow control system of  claim 17 , wherein the louver assembly in the second position directs more flow from the second section to the first section than the louver assembly in the first position. 
     
     
       19. A battery pack flow control system, comprising:
 first and second groups of battery cells within respective first and second sections of a battery enclosure; 
 a first fan that communicates flow through the first section under a first system operating condition, and communicates flow through the second section under a second system operating condition; and 
 a second fan that communicates flow through the second section under the first system operating condition.